Alabama Probate Films from about 1885 - 1888 are not available
Alabama Probate Films from about 1885 - 1888 are not available to view.
I am not sure if anyone is aware there is a problem.
Thank you.
Linda Price
Best Answers
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FamilySearch files are often contracted with the owner/record custodian. I have no idea how many would actually be in public domain - but would think a smaller percentage in my experience.
The index FamilySearch creates from the record images however is a different matter - yes FamilySearch makes those publicly available (again depending on the contract).
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And the microfilm, digitized images, and indexing, to make the records searchable by name or place, are subject to different regulations than the original paper files, still held in county offices.
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Answers
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What county, @LindaPrice32? Most probate records are separated by county within the state.
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I am looking at Cherokee County.
The films from about 1887-1888 all say they are not available.
I am wondering if this is an unreported problem.
Thank you
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A possible explanation: "Cherokee County had destructive courthouse fires in 1882 and 1895."
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The deeds I am looking for have been indexed by Ancestry. I would prefer to have a direct link to the files on Family Search
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Ah - @LindaPrice32 Your original post indicated probate. Now you say deeds. Those are not the same thing and not the same collections. And your link is to an Estate File - which is probate.
The "not available at this time" message displays. Often that means that the record is restricted to view by only certain groups - sometimes LDS Church members can view from home while non-members can only view at the Family History Library.
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Can you see them? Sorry I used the wrong word
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If I follow these steps -
1 - catalog - Alabama, Cherokee
2 - Then open the folder for "United States, Alabama, Cherokee"
3 - Then click on the Link for Probate records (1873-1952) and index (1882-1932) --, 1873-1952
4 - I then click on "here" in "Alabama Probate Records are available online, click here." This opens up the collection with search form. ( Yellow at the top )
5 - I click on "Browse all 322058 images"
6 - I click on "Cherokee"
7 - At this point I have several choices. Here are four results
- " Probate records 1881-1888 vol A." When I click on this link - I get the "image unavailable" popup box. with "This image is unavailable for online viewing at this time."
- "Alabama Probate Records, 1809-1985" - this link gives me the same popup and error.
- "Probate record index 1882-1932 vol A "- this link gives me the same popup and error.
- "Alabama Probate Records, 1809-1985" - this link gives me the same popup and error.
This is all I checked many of them may not be available but it involves several films.
If they have been pulled for Family Search to work on, fine. I will just have to wait. But if these are offline and no-one at the facility for the films knows that there is a problem, I would like to get it reported. I am working on my genealogy in the Cherokee area.
I appreciate you taking the time to take a look. As I am not a church member, my ability to check things is limited.
Regards,
Linda Price
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The catalog entry for these records is https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/40594
I am a non church member and I see all these films have a microfilm icon, which means the images are not available online. This means the error message you are getting is consistent.
Possible there are some researchers, such as LDS church members who can see the images as it seems pointless to have records in Search/ images if no one can see them.
i don't think this is a bug, rather it seems these record images are not available to you.
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@LindaPrice32 This collection is not available to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints here on FamilySearch either (from the bit of checking I did. Yes the film icon in FS Catalog used to/typically means only available at FSL. Checking Search> Images did not turn up any images either.). From appearances of the collection being available on Ancestry - but not on FamilySearch - I would guess Ancestry has an exclusive contract period. I would assume that is why they are not visible at FamilySearch (the images show filmed by GSU/FamilySearch).
work-around possibilities:
1. The Ancestry Share link option you used above is a bit lower quality (smaller image) but it's better than nothing and could be used as the link referenced here at FamilySearch (not sure but would hope those are permanent links). For example, the Ancestry.com link you gave above has share link:
2. I believe you could download the files on Ancestry and attach them in the person's profile Memories - and create Memory Source - here at FamilySearch. I hope/would suspect that's fair use - since FamilySearch is non-commercial - but it sure would be nice to know for sure before doing so. Perhaps someone 'in the know' can comment. Perhaps they would say use the Share link (that definitely is legal).
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Thank you for all the thoughtful answers to this question.
Your last response, genthusiast , is very interesting, if somewhat disturbing.
The FamilySearch files have been in the public domain for a long time. I never like to hear about private companies getting a stranglehold on "public" files.
At any rate, it appears the files will not be available for a long time.
Again, thank you for your help.
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I don't like it either. But actually I'd venture to say more collections are contracted than public domain - but I wouldn't know the percentage.
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